The Red Sox need to add at least a couple relievers this offseason and so consider super utility man Brock Holt, who made the 2015 American League All-Star team, a possible trade chip to acquire a late-inning, hard-thrower

Holt has high value to the Red Sox because of his versatility. He played seven different positions each of the past two seasons and batted .275 with a .336 on-base percentage, .371 slugging percentage, .707 OPS and 69 extra-base hits (52 doubles, 11 triples, six homers) in 2014 and '15 combined.

Holt especially showed his value during '15, starting 49 games at second base with Dustin Pedroia (hamstring) on the disabled list. Kansas City manager Ned Yost chose him as Boston's only All-Star game representative.

Where does Holt's true value exist in 2016? Is he more value as a trade chip this offseason to acquire a reliever or as a member of the 2016 Boston Red Sox?

Holt struggled some in the second half for the second straight year, batting .265/.311/.341/.653 over his final 58 games of 2015 compared to .292/.379/.412/.791 during his first 71 games.

Maybe it's best for the Red Sox to sell now with his value possibly at the highest it will ever be with him coming off an All-Star season. His ability as a super utility player is highly respected throughout the league.

One way of answering the question about whether he's more valuable in a trade for a reliever or as a member of the 2016 team is simply by examining what the Red Sox already have on their roster to replace him.

Both Deven Marrero and Travis Shaw are two Red Sox players without set positions in 2016 who both have versatility. (That said, Shaw might earn a starting position at first base if Hanley Ramirez is traded this offseason).

"It's been good just being able to be part of the game and being in that lineup and that's what it's all about," Marrero told MassLive.com during the final series of 2015 about playing second and third in addition to shortstop. "Just finding a way to get in that lineup and staying in it no matter what position I'm playing. I practice every day there with Butter (infield instructor Brian Butterfield) in early work just to make sure I'm ready for the games and the way we go about our practices is game-like so when I get out there during the game it's second nature.

"All it is just quicker over there at third base," Marrero added. "That's really the difference. Your range is limited because you have to have a little wider base because the ball's coming a lot faster. Other than that, it's all the same. Just make sure you get out there during practice and get those game reps so when the game comes it's all natural to you and you've worked on each play and each angle."

The big question with Marrero: Can he hit enough to replace Holt?

Marrero was actually former GM Ben Cherington's first ever draft pick. Cherington selected him in the first round, 24th overall, in 2012.

Marrero already is 25 and has yet to prove himself offensively.

He batted just .226 with a .268 on-base percentage, .283 slugging percentage, .551 OPS, one homer, three RBIs and eight runs in a limited sample size with Boston (56 plate appearances, 25 games).

More concerning: He hit .256/.316/.344/.660 with six homers, 29 RBIs, 13 doubles and one triple in 102 games (419 plate appearances) at Triple-A Pawtucket and he has batted only .258/.333/.350/.683 in 388 minor league games.

Because of his lack of offense so far, Marrero's own trade value isn't high.

"Just trying to stay consistent in my lower half and just trying to get my hands working more," Marrero said about what he must work on offensively. "And just trying to get comfortable and seeing pitches. Trying to swing at strikes and putting myself in good position to see the ball and attack it."

MARRERO, BEN ZOBRIST, TRAVIS SHAW

Marrero hit well with the wood bats in the Cape Cod League and so the Red Sox were hopeful he'd succeed at the pro level.

Right now, he looks more like a utility infielder. And because of his strong defense, he brings value as a utility infielder to the 2016 Red Sox as long as Dombrowski has other options offensively off the bench.

Dombrowski should try to find a fourth outfielder with some power.

Ben Zobrist, who will be 34 on Opening Day 2016 and is a pending free agent, is a super utility option who averages 17 homers and 77 RBIs per 162 games. For a list of pending free agents,
click here
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Zobrist played right field, left field, DH, second base and third base this year. If the Sox were to trade Holt for a reliever, Zobrist seems like a perfect acquisition. But he won't come cheap. The money might be better allocated elsewhere.

If Shaw can play some left field adequately, that's extremely value because all three Red Sox outfielders -- Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Rusney Castillo -- are extremely athletic and able to rotate around to the different outfield positions. And so bench depth in center and right field isn't necessarily needed.

Plus, the Sox will be adding a fourth outfielder and Shaw will be able to provide depth at both corner infield positions along with Marrero.

If you take all that into account, Holt seems like he can be replaced fairly adequately.

NEED FOR BULLPEN HELP

The Mets and Royals made the World Series this year because of pitching.

The Mets boast power arms in their starting rotation. The Royals have an average starting rotation but several power arms that comprise the best bullpen in baseball.

Pitching is what wins games. That's the Red Sox biggest need and why potentially trading Holt for a reliever makes a lot of sense.

And the Red Sox potentially could receive a power arm for Holt considering how the trade market unfolded last offseason.

The Yankees acquired hard-throwing Justin Wilson for Francisco Cervelli, a backup catcher in New York who put together a terrific year starting for the Pirates in 2015.

The Oakland Athletics acquired a very effective late-game reliever, Tyler Clippard, in exchange for Yunel Escobar, a career .281/.350/.385/.735 hitter.

Those stats are similar to the ones Holt produced in 2015 (.280/.349/.379/.727).

"I love hard throwers but I love hard throwers that get people out because I know plenty of hard throwers that don't get 'em out as much," Dombrowski said. "But it's a situation where sort of just a mixture of getting the best guys out there at this point to get the job done. Where that's going to take us, I don't know. I'm open to trades. I'm open to free agency. I'm open to hard throwers. Now, if (Matt) Barnes ends up out there, you have a hard thrower. (Heath) Hembree's a hard thrower. Doesn't strike out a lot of people. Ideally, you want an arm out there that can be a power arm in some role to get a strikeout at a key time for us.

"Koji (Uehara) is a different kind of guy," Dombrowski added. "(Junichi) Tazawa can get that done. He's not going to get it done in the ninth inning on a consistent basis. So I'm open to basically, at this point, all of them but I would like to have a power arm out there at some point."